The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-06-21
The New Cable-Line Company Is Promptly
Granted Franchise to North Tennes-
see and Other Unused Streets.
The Rights Of the JOhnsons to Missis-
sippi Street Are Declared Forfeited.
srhe Cornell Committee Also Reports that
They Have Violated Many of the Con-
ditiOns of Their Charter.

tons, from the report of the investigating com
raittee to Colonel Johnson's violations Of his
charter to the introduction Of a cable line ordi-
nance, promised an interesting session of the
Council last evening. This matter had prefer
ence in popular attention over the natural gas
measure, which also had features in its amended
form to enliven discussion. AS usual during the
last few weeks, the small space assigned to
spectators was crowded with the striking
street-car drivers and Knights of Labor.
They almost filled, too, the room of the
aldermen Early in the evening Council
man Mack called up Improvement ordinances.
and moved that they be passed. This
required such considerable time, that its purpose
was suggestive of delay in favor of the Citizens
Streetrailway Company. For month or two
the ordinances have been waiting action. and as
tho batch numbered forty the reading
by title for the second reading alone took half
hour. After all. only few were passed. as the
most of them were laid over at the request OF
those having them in charge While this mo-
uotonous work was going on. Colonel Dudley, G.
d. Ingersof C. S. Beardsley and others of the
cable line interests, came into the chamber.
They were just in time listen to the weari-
some reading for the third time of the improve
ment ordinances, each of which was taken in
turn and read from title to the last
clause. 1t not long after their en-
trance that ID. NJ. Ransdell pushed through
the crowd about the door, and took an advan-
tageous position to watch the proceedings. He
and Ross Hawkins, it is said, had been busy dur
ing the day securing a remonstrance to the cable
line from citizens on Tennessee street.
But the Improvement ordinances held sway,
and finally led to a discussion on the Washing
ton-street project. Councilman Thalman, who
had charge of that ordinance, moved to amend
1t by having the Improvement extend from the
east side of Mississippi to the west side of Della
ware street. He did this to obviate the difficult
ties that would probably arise in the unwilling
ness OF the County Commissioners to pay for the
Improvement at this lime in front of the court
house.
II Councilman Edenharter never lets an oppor-
tunity pass to make buncombe speech. On
this occasion he denounced the whole proposed
plan, because he wanted thes streets in other
parts of the city cared for before the business
pection got any further appropriations for street
improvements. 1t ought to be remembered that
the Citizens Streot-raiway Company is also OPP
posed to this Improvement, and has gone so far
rs to threaten the Council with dire punish
ment if IL should pass the ordinance. This may
explain the anmus of the Edenharter speech.
Councilman Swain emphasized this fact and
showed the falIacy of Edenharter's assertion that
the central part of the city had had enough i'm
provements at the expense of outside wards.
IL was the reverse, he said, for the outside
wards had long enjoyed privileges which the
central part of the city, where the tax values
are. had 10 pay the larger part of the expense
DIR. Thalman's amendment was lost, because
the opinion prevailed that the county could just
as we'll at this time as at any other bear its share
of the improving expense. The question then
occurred on the ordinance az it had been amend
I'D by the committee and afterwards it was
passed bv % yeas to nays, the latter being
Waterman and Edenbarter Under this meas
ure the Improvement is to be Medina stone, laid
between Mississippi and Alabama streets. and of
the expense the Citizens Streetrailway Compa-
nv is to be compelled to pay its share.
When half-dozen other ordinances of this
class had been passed. including one for a brick
sewer on Ray street, Councilman Thaiman
asked, a special privilege, to introduce the
cabe-line ordinance. A round of applause
greeted his request, and Councilman Coy in his
hurry TO come to the front. moved to suspend
the rules it could at once. He forgot
that the ordinance had not been read, and had
to give way until this formality was observed.
and a number of petitions, asking for the passage
Of the ordinance. were presented When the
motion TO suspend the rules was in order, Coun-
Gilman Cummings offered it. leaving Council
man Coy to 60 on record only as a
,econd. The petitions favoring the ordi-
Aance came from the Atlas engine works;
,signed by more than two hundred citizens from
fifty employees of Dean Brothers, and from the
employees of the l., d. 81 S. shops, west of White
river, with 125 signatures.
During the evening and up to the second read
Ing OF the ordinance the representatives of the
Tennessee remonstranIs endeavored to have the
ordinance amended so to place the line on
Mississippi street. but to this the company would
not consent as it would bring a conflict at the
outset with the Citizens Street-railway Com
pany.
After the ordinance read the first time,
the motion to permit of Its passage
the amending stage Councilman Cum
mngs offered as Section - that the
Council and the Board of Aldermen reserve the
right TO impose and collect a special tax over aud
above the regular ad valorem tax. not exceeding
two per cent. of the gross earnings or receipts OF
the company. provided, however. that no special
tax shall be imposed collected prior to Jan.
], 1892 This was unanimously adopted.
Councilman Pearson moved to amend by in
Serting Mississippi in place OF Tennessee street
He represented remonstrants who owned 1850
feet on that thoroughfare. They did not
want any line on the street Councilman
Haugh moved to lay the anne ndment on the TIA
BILE, which carried. Burns, Coy. Dunn,
Pearson aud Swain only voting against it. The
difference amcably arranged after Colonel
Dudley had, by permission of the Council said
that he represented n set OF men who paid at
tention to public opinion. The frat section of
the ordinance granted his company streets that
were not occupied by other street-car lines
Again, in reaching Mississippi street through
Market the State house would be in the way.
His company was willing TO take all the chances
with another company, and did not
desire to enforce its wishes on the people.
Therefore, it would be willing to go to Mssssip-
3i street, although it would necessitate two adj
ditional turns and thus lessen the life OF the
street the line should go on Tennessee to New
York and thence TO Mississippi. The Coonefs
were applauded, especially the state
ment that his company desired to give the people
amended by making the line west Mar
ker TO Tennessee, thence TO New York, thence |
10 Mississippi, ont that thoroughfare to Seventh
and then to Tennessee again. continuing to
Twelfth. and thence TO the State fair grounds.
With these amendments the ordinance
adopted without dissenting vote.
After the first section, which grants the right |
,f the streets, the ordinance provides that by |!
he first day of November, 1883, cable lines shall
% constructed as follows:
at the Union passenger |
station ~ jackson Place; thence Lorth on the |
1ew hfty-foot street leading from jackson Place |
% Georgia street, thence east upon Georgia |
street to Meridian street; thence north on Merid-
street To Circle street; thence west on Circle
street to Market street; thence west on Market
street to Tennessee street; thence north on Ten
iessee street to New York street, and thence |
vest to Mississippi street; thence TO Seventh.
hence TO Tennessee, thence 20 Twelfth, TO the
State fair grounds.
Second-Commencing Mt the intersection of
Meridian street and the south boundary OF Circle
m at